Learned the value of bringing quality water, sipping it frequently, snacking frequently, too on this 10 hour 4700' gain adventure. Slow go due to there being four of us / two teens and two adults all at different endurance levels. We appreciate the views Elbert offered us....and the pain, too!

I met a friend out here and we did this one together. I live in Baltimore at an altitude of about 500'. I arrived in CO on Friday and did this on Saturday. There were plenty of people on the trail and maybe 60 on the summit. Personally, I like seeing people out doing stuff, so it doesn't bother me. Anyway, we had a great time!

NE Ridge-
Started out and blew right through the CO trail thinking we needed to cross it and keep going. Once the braided trail started peetering out and I finally looked at a map I realized our mistake (needed to take a left on it). Besides putting us an hour behind we made it back to the main trail and were still on the summit before noon. Weather was comming in and we stayed only a few minutes. We were well off the summit when the thunder and rain stared but there were still a lot of people up high.

Parked and climbed the South Mt. Elbert trail to the summit. Hiked down and then up to South Mt. Elbert. Hiked further southeast to Mount Cosgriff (13,588). Hiked down the northeast face of Mount Cosgriff aiming for the mine road. Hiked most of the mine road and it lets you out exactly where I parked for the South Mt. Elbert trail. Going over to South Mt. Elbert was a much more beautiful hike than the one up!

There were at least 50 people on the summit, including a girl in a bikini blasting music, cooking hot dogs and handing out beers. Probably saw over 100 people on the trail that day. Not your typical climbing experience, but it was fun nonetheless.

The 2.5 false summits were a little discouraging and the hike felt pretty long. I think hiking on 3 hours of sleep might have contributed to the deathmarchesque feeling. Mosquitos were bad below treeline but everyone had a good time. Stopped at Pancho's in Buena Vista for post-climb mexican and it was decent.

Started on the trail at 2:30am and reached the summit about 6:45am. Hiking the steep alpine stretch in the moonlight was gorgeous and at an ideal cool temperature. Lovely sunrise with 360 views and cell phone service on the summit.